Automatic fire-alarm system.



F. GOTTSCHALK. AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEM'. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19. I914.

1,147,014. Patented July 20,1915.

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FELIX GOTTSGHALK, OF STIRLING, NEN JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEM.

Lll'mlid.

Original application filed February 13, 1914, Serial No. 818,503.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Divided and this application filed September 19, 1914. Serial No. 862,482.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FELIX Go'rTscrrALK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stirling, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, have invented certa n new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fire-Alarm Systems, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to fire alarm systems, and has for its principal object the utilization of the ordinary telephone instrument and its associated line and central office equipment, for the transmission of a characteristic alarm signal by the mechanical operation of the telephone receiver hook by means of a suitable device, said device being released to operate by means of a fusible link or thermostatic device.

A further object is the eliminatlon of any electrical connections to the telephone instrument or its circuit, the sending of a characteristic fire signal being accomplished entirely by the mechanical actuation of the telephone receiver hook.

Another object is to produce'a mechanical attachment easily installed on any type of telephone instrument, for the purpose specified.

There are other objects as hereinafter set forth.

In my pending application, Serial No. 818,503, of which this is a division, I dis close and claim a receiver hook held in its normal or restrained position by means of a fusible link, so that when the link is melted by an abnormal rise in temperature, the hook switch will be released, thereby signaling the central oflice. It is obvious, however, that with the foregoing arrangement, the signal is not characteristic, that is, the effect at the central office would be .the same if the telephone receiver were accidentally removed from the hook, or if the line became crossed or if any other accident should occur that would cause a permanent signal to be displayed.

To obviate the above, my present invention contemplates means whereby a distinctive signal is given in the exchange in case of fire. p

The accompanying drawing-is a view of a complete apparatus adapted to give the characteristic signal in case of fire.

For the sake of illustration, a desk telephone instrument is shown, but it is obvious that the hook actuating mechanism may be clamped on a wall set or in. fact on any type of telephone instrument equipped with a receiver hook or any other type of switching mechanism.

1 denotes the frame work of the telephone instrument. 2, the usual receiver hook, its normal or restrained position being shown in heavy lines and its operated position, in dotted lines. Attached to the hook switch 2 in any suitable manner is the lever 3 projecting from the actuating mechanisr. 4, which may be any suitable form of clockwork adapted to be wound by the key 5.

6 is a fusible link adapted to melt at an abnormal temperaturesay 150 degrees Fall. This is clamped between a fixed support 7 and a movable support or pawl 8. When 6 melts due to abnormal heat, the pawl 8 is released, the clock work is set in motion, member 3 is actuated and hook switch 2 is alternately raised and lowered as long as the clock work is running. This movement of the hook switch may readily be made distinctive in character by means of the escapement of the clock work in a manner well known to those versed in the art, so as to re peat the Morse character F or' to spell in Morse characters Fire or to give any other desired signal, the hook switch of the telephone being operated similar to a telegraph key and thereby operating the central oiiice signal like a telegraph relay, or if the exchange operator listens in, affecting the head receiver in a distinctive manner.

It will be seen that my invention consists of utilizing the standard telephone instrument, line and central office apparatus for the purpose of transmitting a distinctive fire signal without complicating same by the addition of electrically operated devices for sending in the alarm, and that my device is purely mechanical and does not affect the transmission of the telephone line in any manner and that by disconnecting the member 3, the instrument may be used as an ordinary telephone.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In an alarm system of the character described, a telephone instrument having switching mechanism, means connected to said mechanism for moving same to its on and 05 positions, and means adapted to Patented July 20, 1915. y

be operated by heat for starting said actuating means.

2. In an alarm system of the character described, the combination with a circuit leading from a premises to be protected, to

a telephone exchange, a signal and a source of energy, of a telephone instrument having switching mechanism, and thermostatically controlled means for moving said switching mechanism to its on and ofi. positions, thereby producing a characteristic signal in said exchange. a

3. In an alarm system of the character described, a telephone instrument having switching mechanism, spring driven .actuating means for' moving said switching mechanism to its a fusible link restraining said actuating means in a non-operative position, said link adapted to melt in the presence of abnormal heat.

4. In an alarm system of the character described, a telephone instrument having a switch hook, a self-contained mechanical actuating device clamped to said switch hook for moving the same to its on and 01? positions, mechanical means holding said actuating means and a fusible link connected to said holding means and adapted to melt-in the presence of abnormal heat.

5. In an alarm system of the character described, a telephone instrument having switching mechanism, a mechanical actuating device connected to said switching mechanism and adapted to operate same in a pre- Gopiesof this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the on and 01? positions and determined manner, restraining means connected to said actuating means and a fusible link holding said restraining means and adapted to melt in the presence of abnormal heat, and thereby cause the operation of said actuating means, substantially as described.

6. In an alarm system of the character described, a telephone instrument having a switch hook, mechanical actuating means for said switch hook adapted to raise and lower same in a predetermined manner, means comprising a suitable clamp for connecting said actuating means to said switch hook, and means comprising a: fusible link for holding said actuating means in itsnon-operative position, adapted to melt in the presence of abnormal heat, thereby releasing said actuating means and causing the operation of said switch hook. 3 p

7. An. attachment for telephone instruments, comprising in combination, a spring actuated device having a member adapted to engage the switch hook of said telephone and a fusible link, both ends of which are attached to said spring actuated device for restraining same except in the presence of abnormal heat.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FELIX GOTTSCHALK.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. LUBRECHT, \OHAS. LUBRECHT.

Commissioner of Patentl Washington, D. 0.

said fusible link being. 

